RIP on a virtual machine?

[Rucola]

OK, is this a crazy idea?

Could the PC currently taking up office space and running a GMG RIP be replaced by a virtual machine, i.e. Parallels with Windows on one of the Mac workstations?

The issues that immediately spring to mind are speed, and more importantly, the dongle question -- the RIP won't work without the dongle. I suppose if it's PS/2, and there's nowhere on the Mac to plug it in, I'm sort of lost ...

Anyone tried to run a RIP on a virtual machine? Ever? For any reason?

[mattbeals]

I like the idea, I just don't see it happening on Mac hardware. Running a RIP on a stand alone box is taxing enough. But to run it in a virtualized environment just doesn't seem to be reasonably possible. Is it possible, yes. Is it practical, no. It is one of those things that brings to mind the idea of diminishing returns. What is the value proposition? What is it you will be saving by virtualizing the environment versus keeping the RIP as a stand alone box? What are the performance implications, how much productivity will be lost or gained through virtualization? It would appear on the outset that there are no real benefits to such a plan. I only see problems with such a environment regardless of the fact that most RIPs are not meant to take advantage of multi-processor RIPs or have been tested in virtualized environments. And you would need both to be of any real benefit.

[Rucola]

Space is at a premium in the location I'm thinking of. That's the main issue, and if one box can be rationalised away it would make a difference. I'm not too concerned about speed; the RIP only drives a wide format inkjet, and isn't in constant use (and the box it currently runs on is a few years old anyway). I tend to think you're right though ... *sigh*

Here's the situation: This RIP is in a corner taking up space, and has a keyboard and monitor. We could do away with the keyboard and monitor, and just control it over VNC... but you need to reboot it occasionally, and it seems the VNC server doesn't start up until after the Windows login window

Maybe a KVM switch and a small form factor PC?

[mattbeals]

The KVM wouldn't do much good. Why not run a VNC session? There are VNC servers out there that start up as a service just fine. You'll probably need to leave the keyboard and mouse plugged in just in case or for booting anyways. But just do it over VNC, that's the simplest way to go about it. I VNC or RDP across the internet all the time when I'm out of the house.